Guest Author - Sarah Elise Stauffer

The PBS series Rx for Survival — A Global Health Challenge is exploring global health and is giving all of us who are capable the oppurtunity to make a difference. Why Focus on Child Survival? "Child survival, though, is one global health challenge about which every American can quickly and easily make a dramatic difference. Millions of children die between birth and age 5 each year who would have a good chance at life if they had access to five basic and inexpensive health interventions:

Vaccinations to fight childhood diseases, including measles and tetanus
Insecticide-treated netting to stop mosquitoes that carry malaria
Vitamin A and other micronutrients to help fight infection and prevent nutritional deficiencies
Oral rehydration packets to help reduce diarrhea-related illness and deaths
Antibiotics to fight pneumonia and antimalarial drugs
Additionally, where it is appropriate, there are significant health values in mothers breastfeeding their infants. "


Help spread the word about Rx for Survival and the Rx for Child Survival Campaign. To donate: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/rxforsurvival/campaign/donate/index.html

To speak out about child health among your friends and neighbors, write to the media, and contact your elected officials: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/rxforsurvival/campaign/speakout/index.html

To Volunteer:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/rxforsurvival/campaign/givetime/index.html

During the week of November 1, 2005, when Rx for Survival airs nationwide on PBS:

TIME Magazine will publish a special issue and host an international summit of health experts and policymakers; TIME's international edition and TIME for Kids will also have global health focused issues.
NPR will include stories about global health on many of its nationally broadcast shows.
The Penguin Press will publish a companion book.

Nothing matters more than our children. Please do your part to ease the suffering. Thank you.